Scarifying applicator



Dec. 31, 1957 A. w. BARRY 2,818,070

SCARIFYING APPLICATOR Filed March 28, 1955 FIGJ.

FIG.2.

INVENTOR. AARON w. BARRY ATTORNEY United States Patent SCARIFYING APPLICATOR Aaron W. Barry, Port Huron, Mich.

Application March 28, 1955, Serial No. 497,155

8 Claims. (Cl. 128-333) The present invention relates to a scarifying applicator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a scarifying applicator for use in vaccination or the like, characterized by the economy with which it may be produced and its elliciency in use.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a scarifying applicator formed of a handle-like part adapted to contain a quantity of serum, vaccine, or the like, and a removable scarifier having a passage therethrough communicating with the interior of the handle-like part and surrounded by scarifying teeth.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide, in a scarifying applicator, a handle-like construction formed of two pieces one of which is flexible and essentially tubular and which may accordingly be sterilized in a simple and efiicient manner, and the other of which is a solid elongated member having a reduced portion receivable in one end of the generally tubular portion to constitute a closure therefor.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section, of a scarifying applicator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a similar scarifying applicator illustrating a somewhat different embodiment of scarifier element.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section of the scarifying end of the scarifier.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the scarifying end of one embodiment of the scarifier.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the scarifying end of another embodiment of scarifier.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary axial section showing the use of a closure cap for closing the opening into the hollow interior of the handle-like part.

As best illustrated in Figure 1, the scarifying apparatus comprises an elongated implement adapted to be held in the hand of the operator somewhat in the same manner as a pencil, or at least to be held in what may properly be referred to as a pencil grip. In employing the scarifier it is desirable to apply it to the skin of the patient at which time two steps are taken and as to which the order of the steps is immaterial. One of the steps is to effect an abrading, scarifying, or milling of the skin. This operation is not to be confused with a cutting operation, but is intended merely to be suificient to permit penetration of the serum, vaccine or the like. With the present scarifying applicator, this operation is carried out by effecting rotation of the scarifying applicator with the scarifying teeth or blades in light pressure contact with the skin of the patient. The operation is carried out without effecting transverse movement of the implement.

The second operation is the ejection of a small quantity of material from the hollow interior of the applicator.

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Obviously, if the material is ejected before rotation of the implement, it will penetrate the skin during the abrading, scarifying or ruflling operation. If ejection of the material follows the scarifying operation it penetrates the skin as a result of the prior scarifying operation. While either method is proper, it is generally preferable to eject a small quantity of the serum, vaccine or the like, after which the scarifying operation takes place and assists in causing the liquid to penetrate the skin.

As best seen in Figure l, the implement comprises a handle made up of two parts, the first of which is a container part 10 of generally tubular construction having a hollow interior as indicated at 12 to receive serum, vaccine or the like. The front end of the part 10 is reduced and has a tapered fitting portion indicated at 14 through which extends a reduced passage 16 to permit serum, vaccine or the like to be expelled from the hollow interior of part 10.

The handle is completed by an elongated extension 18 preferably solid, having a reduced forward extension 20 received in the open rear end of the hollow part 10.

By making the parts 10 and 18 as illustrated, the hollow interior of the part 10 may conveniently be sterilized. Desirably, these parts are made of a suitable plastic, such for example as a polyethylene plastic. In general, plastics of this type are not suitable for sterilization by steam and accordingly, it is preferable to provide a tubular part to facilitate sterilization by other methods.

Associated with the tapered end fitting portion of the handle is the scarifier 22 which has a tubular rear end 24 having a tapered recess to receive the tapered fitting 14. The tapered fitting 14 will be recognized as similar to the familiar leur fitting.

The scarifying applicator includes a radially extending flange 26 against which the operator may press in order to provide the requisite pressure between the teeth of the scarifying applicator and the skin of the patient.

The forward end of the scarifying applicator is re duced and is provided with a small through passage 28 which permits serum, vaccine or the like to be ejected from the interior 12 of the handle. The forward end of the scarifying applicator is provided with a circular series of teeth, blades or the like, as indicated generally at 30 and which will subsequently be described in more detail. These teeth and/ or blades are designed to scarify, abrade or ruffle the skin to permit penetration therethrough of the serum, vaccine or the like.

In order to preserve the operating end of the scarifier in a sterile condition, it is preferably provided with a removable cap 32 which may be formed of suitable plastic, such for example as a polyethylene plastic.

In Figure 2 the parts 10 and 18 are shown separated and associated therewith is shown a slightly different embodiment of scarifier as indicated at 34. This scarifier.

includes the tapered recess 36 adapted to cooperate with the tapered leur fitting portion 14 of the handle, and is provided with the radial flange 38 similar to the flange 26 illustrated in Figure 1. It may be noted that the flanges 26 and 38 may both, if desired, conveniently be formed of non-circular cross-section so as to serve as a rest for retaining the scarifying end of the implement out of contact with the supporting surface While at the same time preventing rolling of the implement.

In this case the scarifying teeth and/ or blades indicated generally at 443, are located more closely adjacent to the flange 38 than those shown in Figure l, and are accordingly disposed in a circular array of somewhat greater diameter than that shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figures 35, there is shown greatly enlarged, the forward end of the scarifier. These figures are intended to show the formation of the teeth or blades and it will be appreciated that teeth or blades illustrated at 30 in Figure 1 or 40 in Figure 2 may be like these of Figures 3-5. In general, the forward end of the scarifier, which in Figures 3 and 4 is designated generally at 42, is provided with a circular array of teeth 44. These teeth are separated by generally radially extending grooves terminating in bottom corners 46 formed by the intersection of the side surfaces 48 of the teeth. The teeth are further brought to scarifying points indicated at 50 by forming an inner conical surface 52. As a result of this construction the scarifying operation is effected by a concentric coplanar series of points.

Referring now to Figure 5, a modified arrangement of scarifying elements is effected. In this case a plurality of pointed teeth are provided terminating in the sharp scarifying points 60 having generally fiat side surfaces 62 and 64, a generally conical outer surfacefifi, and a generally conical inner surface 68. Intermediate each of the pointed teeth is a blade tooth having a sharp knife edge designated at 70 formed by the intersection of the two generally flat surfaces 72 and 74. The sides of adjacent teeth intersect at lines 75.

The scarifying arrangement of Figure 5 provides sequentially operating sharp pointed teeth effective to produce a severe local scarifying effect followed by a sharp blade or knife edge 70 designed to spread the vaccine, to effect a scarifying or abrading action of its own, and particularly to produce an action on the vaccine or serum on the skin tending to facilitate its penetration of the abraded area.

Referring now to Figure 6 there is illustrated an arrangement in which a closure cap 80 is provided adapted to fit over the tapered leur fitting end of the part 10 of the handle. This permits separate sterilization of the metallic scarifying element and re-application to the handle which may contain sufficient serum, vaccine or the like for a plurality of applications.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved scarifying applicator in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A scarifying applicator for use on the skin of a patient comprising a handle formed of a generally tubular member having a tapered front end'portion, a scarifier removably carried on said tapered front end portion having a passage therethrough communicating with the interior of said tubular member, and an elongated member having a reduced extension received in and closing the open rear end of said tubular member.

2. Structure as defined in claim 1 in which said tubular member is formed of yieldable plastic material.

3. A scarifying applicator for use on the skin of a patient comprising an elongated handle the rear portion of which is solid and the front portion of which is tubular and provided with a reduced end portion having a passage therethrough, said handle being formed in its entirety of a yieldable plastic material to provide for expelling a liquid charge by compressing the tubular front portion of the handle, a scarifier removably carried on the reduced end portion and having a passage connecting with the passage through the reduced end portion of the handle and having an annular series of teeth surrounding the passage therethrough for scarifying the skin of a patient by rotating the handle aboutits longitudinal axis.

4. An applicator as defined in claim 3 in which said scarifier is providedwith aradialflangeiengageable by the fingers of an operator to apply pressure axially of the applicator.

5. A scarifying applicator foruse on the skin of a patient comprising a compressible hollow handle having a passage at one cnd-communicating with the hollow interior thereof, a scarifier carried by the said one end of said handle and comprising a circular array of scarifying teeth and a passage extending centrally through the array of teeth and communicating with the passage at the end of saidhandle to provide for ejectionuof liquid from the hollow interior of the handlebefore, during, or after scarification of the skin oftherpatient.

6. A scarifying applicator for use on the skin of a patient comprising a compressible hollow handle having a passage at one end communicating with the hollow interior thereof, a scarifier carried by the said one end of said handle andcomprising a circular array of scarifying teeth and a passage extending. centrally through the array of teeth and communicating with the passage at the end of said handle to provide for election of liquid from the hollow interior of the handle before, during, or after scarification' of the skin of the patient, the scarifying teeth terminating in sharp points and occupying a single plane perpendicular to the axis of. the handle.

7. A scarifying applicator for uses on the skin of a patient comprising. a compressible hollowhandle having a passage at one end communicating with the hollow interior thereof, a scarifier-carried by the said one end of said handle and comprising. aacircular array of scarifyng teeth and a passage extending. centrally through the array of teeth and communicating with the passage at the end of said handle toprovide for ejection of liquid from the hollow interior of the handle before, during,.or after scarification of the skin of the patient, alternate ones of said scarifying teeth terminating. in sharp points, and the re maining. ones terminating. in radially disposed knife edges.

8. An applicator as defined in claim 7 in which the points of the pointed teethof theapplicator occupy a circle intermediate the circlesdefined by the ends of the knife edges on the remaining teeth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,145,323 Lindberg' July 6, 1 915 2,179,501 Dorsett Nov. 14, 1939 2,612,162 Barry Sept. 30, 1952 2,677,373 Barradas May 4, I954 

